Guyana teams up with Huawei to implement e-conferencing

COVID-19

The National Data Management Authority (NDMA) has teamed up with Chinese technology giant Huawei to outfit various State facilities – inclusive of Ministries and Regional Democratic Councils, with video conferencing capabilities.
The aim is to change the way in which State officials interact with each other. This comes at a time when the world is encouraging physical distancing as a means of combating the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The NDMA teamed up with Huawei Technologies to install the conferencing facilities at all ministries and in the boardrooms of all 10 regional administrations except for Region Nine’s.
It noted that similar facilities were also being installed at State hospitals around the country to allow for e-medicine, so doctors in the city could supervise surgeries and other medical interventions, using the system to consult with counterparts in the interior and other far-flung regions.
Huawei and the NDMA have been collaborating on a number of projects, including the CCTV Smart City project under which hi-tech cameras have been installed at a number of city and coastal points to assist law enforcement with monitoring criminal, traffic and other activities.
According to the NDMA, in a statement, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the National Corona Task Force (NCTF) are among other agencies benefiting from connectivity to the grid – part of the broadband network signed on to and accessed by the NDMA.
“The Authority is keen on ensuring that all essential service bodies remain functional and connected in the execution of their duties. The NDMA recognises the pivotal role that technology can play in the fight against COVID-19, especially where staying connected to friends and family is concerned, as well as staying updated and informed about developments relating to the illness,” the statement relayed.
The agency said caretaker President David Granger was able to hold his first video conferencing exercise on Monday using the newly-installed system. It explained that Granger was able to interface with his acting ministers from his office at the Ministry of the Presidency.
NDMA Head Floyd Levi was quick to make the point that the installation of the system as part of the national broadband project was most timely as the first session was held in the midst of the national effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus.